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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
BURGAW – Midway closed the third quarter with a 15-0 spurt that propelled the Lady Raiders to a 46-37 lead and eventual 57-47 victory over East Bladen in the Four County Conference Girls Basketball semi-finals Thursday night.
The Lady Eagles trailed 31-29 at halftime, but senior Justyna Gargala tossed in a lay-up, and sophomore Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson popped in a 16-footer from the right corner, a 12-footer from the baseline and a 15-footer from the key that gave East Bladen a 37-31 lead with 5:04 left in the third quarter.
Guard Leah Williams sparked a run of 15 straight points by the Lady Raiders with a 3-point basket, a lay-up and 6 free throws. East Bladen sophomore Ashley Hardin halted the run by flipping in an 8-footer 13 seconds before the quarter break to trim the Midway lead to 46-39.
Senior Emily Scott drained a 16-footer, and Hardin rattled in a 12-footer to keep the Lady Eagles within 49-43. Another Hardin runner kept the Lady Eagles within 52-45 with 3:50 remaining.
The Lady Raiders hit 3 of 6 free throws in the closing minutes, while freshman Patience Ward threw in a 6-foot follow-shot for the final East Bladen basket.
“We have got to protect the ball better and get everybody involved in the offense,” said Lady Eagle Coach Patty Evers whose team was plagued by 27 turnovers. “I thought we looked tired at times tonight.”
Moore-Peterson led the Lady Eagles with 14 points. Hardin, Scott, Ward and senior Shardajah Brown all scored 6 points each. Gargala finished with 5 points.
“Justyna gave us a lot of energy when she came in,” continued Coach Evers. “Ashley and Emily did a good job on the boards.”
Brown pulled down 10 rebounds for East Bladen, and Scott and Hardin grabbed 9 rebounds each.
Moore-Peterson bombed in a 3-pointer, and senior Yolanda Coston put back a rebound to give the Lady Eagles an early 5-2 lead. Ward turned a Moore-Peterson assist into a lay-up and a 7-6 lead.
Gargala pumped in a 14-footer to tie the game 9-9. Moore-Peterson pulled up for a 13-footer then drove for a lay-up and a 3-point play that vaulted East ahead 14-9. Brown knocked down a 3-point shot for a 17-13 lead at the quarter break.
Rebound baskets by Coston and Scott began the second quarter and boosted the Lady Eagle lead to 21-13. After a pair of Williams baskets trimmed the margin to 21-19, Brown buried another 3-ball for a 24-19 lead.
Maddie Royal dropped in a pair of baskets to lead a 9-0 Midway run that vaulted the Lady Raiders in front 28-24. Gargala hit a free throw, and Scott and Ward put back follow shots to whittle the Midway lead to 31-29 at halftime.
Williams topped all scorers with 24 points for Midway, and teammate J. J. Sankey followed with 15 points. The Lady Raiders (12-14) play Clinton in Friday night’s championship game.
The Lady Eagles, now 21-5, will wait till Saturday to find out who they play in the NCHSAA Class 2A play-offs. East Bladen is expected to host a first round play-off game next Tuesday night.
EAST BLADEN (47) – Kaley Smith, Justyna Gargala 5, Shardajah Brown 6, Emily Scott 6, Anna Kate White, Patience Ward 6, Ashley Hardin 6, Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson 14, Yolanda Coston 4, Lorna Mendell.
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